Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-06-23

but the heavy Pullman coaches OF which
the train was composed, could not be
controlled promptly, nor the momentum
overcome He saw the danger signal set
and whistled on alarm, In hope of getting
the sonth-bound train out Of the way, but
failed In his purpoae and the collision fol-
lowed. S
Fireman George Gordon Of the limited
trnin confirms the statement of Engineer
Sargent concerning the failure OF the
air brake TO work promptly
A. j. Leiambre OF New York, passen-
ger on the south bound train thus des-
cribes tho accident:
was sitting in the smoking-car OF the
south-bound express at the time Of the acci-
dent talking with my friend II. B. Handriek-
son, Of New York. All Of o sudden tho con-
gresslonal express struck us on ths side.
and knew 1t was collision. The train
which we were on stopped about seven
minutes at Havre de Grace. Just bef re we
started again heard an engine thistle.
1t sounded about three miles of. Looked
out OF the window and saw only -ipgle
track. We had just arrived at the switch
when the trains met. The engine and
baggage Car of our train crossed the ewitch,
leaving two sleepers and a smoker on tho
single track. The two sleepers were
turned completely over, and the smoker
badly wrecked. 1t took fire but was put out
very quickly. One gentleman, who was In
the car with us, WINS almost instantly Killed
by either having his head completely
crushed, or by steam. ALI were taken out
of the smoker before the fire gained any
Roadway. Goodness only knows why more
were not killed. When the crash can't there
was falling shower Of broken glass, and
then the escaping steam began to pour into
the car. Ibegan to chamber over the backs
s.Ng At. al ksNHf
could. A gentleman named Michael Ash,
OF 3O8 Light street, Baltimore, was badly
| cut about the face. An old gentleman,
| whose name l didn't learn, had his face
/ crushed In, and another man had his left
arm broken both above and below the
elbow. raised the back OF the seat
| to release him. The Bmoking-car was
very full. think at least 10 or 20
were badly injured, but only heard OF one
| being killed. The dead man was evidently
| a German and well dressed. After tho acci-
| dentI asked the conductor Of our train
what caused the accident, and his answer
| was that 1t was o misunderstanding OF the
card" Mrs. Cox and Miss Il. Indy Of Aus
l tralia, who were also on the train, escaped
| with shaking up. Three cars OF tho CON
/ gressiOnal express were attached to our en-
| CINE and brought us to Baltimore. The ac-
i cident was the fault OF the congressional
train. was told that 1t was so minutes
4
| mile a minute. The signal was up for the
congressional to stop for our train to pass.
but the engineer passed into tho switch
track without heeding the signal.
II. T. Grant, Jr., of Providence, Il. l.,
another occupant Of the wrecked smoking
or thoroughfare-car, says:
was sitting In the forward emf Of the
smoking-car when the accident occurred.
| We had just started from the dept. The
| train was made up as follows: Engine, ten
der, baggage-car, two Pullman parlor-cars,
smoker and two coaches. Just as We got
| under way we heard the whistle of IN en-
CINE OF an approaching train. was sitting
In the third seat Of the smoker and un the
1 side toward the north-bound track. could
I see the parlor-ears ahead OF us turning over
and l jumped up and started to run back.
When the crash came the smoker was filled
with steam. The engine penetrated the
smoker to about where had been sitting.
The man who was killed was sitting In
the front seat of the smoker, right
| ut the stove. He was pinned down by the
debris and suffocated by steam. His flesh
was pale, livid color when he was taken
out. One OF Wanamaker's travelling agents
was on the smoker and was badly hurt. ne
| returned to Philadelphia. Another man
was hurt about the legs, and was brought
to Baltimore. Another man had his leg
| broken. The engine and baggage-ear oi
our train had passed the junction OF the
two tracks, but the Pullmans were too near
the congressional engine to pass. They
J were hit a CHANGING blow and turned com.
pletely over, the running gear and glass
being broken. Tho smoker caught the full
force of the collision and then both trims
| stopped. The escaping steam made escape
difficult. 1t Is wonder to me how we goi
out ut all. The back coaches were not hurt
except some broken glass. The passengers
were all shaken up. The old signal was VI
! for the congressional to walt. We had moi
gone over 100 yards when the collision
, occurred.
James Pinkham Of Minneapolis, Mimi.
had narrow escape from death. He had
his left clavicle broken, his left forearm
also broken, several ribs on his left side
smaRhed. In discussing the affair he said
was sitting on the eft.hand side OF tn,
second palace car of the north-b0und train
| when, as quick as q finsh and without tht
slightest warning, something struck oul
train. The car was In turned over, and
WINS thrown from the loft side OF tho car Il
the other. He sAid that when he tried X
prevent himself from being thrown aeains
a chair another one fell from above upoI
! him, and he thinks this was the why hi
had his limbs and bones broken. he man
aged to get out OF the train. He, with sew
, eral others In tho same car, who were hurt
were taken in charge by a physician.
, II appears from the statements of al
, the passengers that large number wer
wounded by the collision, but the excite
ment was so great that 1t was impos
! | sible to procure any more names, and thu
| full extent of the personal injuries re
A sulting from the unfortunate affair vii
! probably never be known.